Camping sites near Woodstock, New York range from primitive to fully equipped facilities within the eastern Catskill Mountains. The region sits at elevations between 1,000-4,180 feet with a humid continental climate creating distinct camping seasons. Summer nights typically cool to the low 50s even when daytime temperatures reach the 80s, making sleeping conditions comfortable with proper gear.
What to do
Hiking the Devil's Path: Multiple campgrounds provide access to this challenging trail system. One camper at Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground reported: "Got chased off by a bear... the hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear."
Swimming in natural lakes: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas for summer relief. A regular visitor to North-South Lake Campground shared: "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time."
Waterfront activities: Creek access allows for tubing and wading near several campgrounds. A visitor to Phoenicia Black Bear Campground noted: "The creek was perfect for dipping your feet and just hanging out."
Boating options: Some locations offer seasonal boat rentals for exploring lakes and ponds. A campground visitor mentioned: "We happened to spend the weekend on a day with free canoe/kayak rentals which was great!"
What campers like
Natural water features: The sound of running water enhances many camping locations. One camper at Woodland Valley Campground described: "The mountain creek is like nature singing a lullaby - sleeping next to it was very relaxing."
Site privacy: Many campgrounds offer spacious, separated sites. A camper at Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson noted: "We had a 3-day weekend tent camping at this site... Campsite is flat and packed dirt instead of gravel, which was great. There's a standard picnic table and a decent raised fire pit, and a spigot at our site."
Wildlife viewing: Bear activity requires caution but also creates memorable experiences. A reviewer wrote: "In the morning we woke up to a baby bear walking on our campsite. We kept our distance but that was definitely a thrill."
Access to towns: Several campgrounds offer proximity to local communities. According to one visitor: "River access for tubing! Love the owner! 2 minutes walk to town."
What you should know
Bear precautions: Wildlife management goes beyond standard measures in many campgrounds. A visitor to Devil's Tombstone Campground advised: "Check-in was easy, if you bring a pet make sure you have your paperwork with you, they do actually look at it."
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly between locations. A camper observed: "This campground was my first backpacking trip and it was perfect! There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake."
Weather variability: Higher elevation sites experience more dramatic temperature swings. According to one camper: "We got rained out. but it was still an awesome campground. private and just secluded enough. everyone was friendly. water to play in right behind tent."
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. A frequent visitor warned: "North South lake is one of the larger public camp grounds in New York. The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge. Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. A visitor to Echo Lake reported: "This campground was perfect! There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake."
Educational opportunities: Ranger programs operate seasonally at select locations. A parent shared: "I'm a native of the Catskills and spent many an afternoon with my family enjoying the facilities at North/South Lake. I've recently started going there again with my own family and it's great to see them take the same enjoyment I did. Camping, swimming, hiking, boating, biking, this place has it all."
Kid-friendly water access: Some swimming areas feature gradual entry points. A visitor noted: "Located just about a mile from Kaaterskill Falls this campground couldn't be in a better spot. We had a wonderful weekend there."
Noise considerations: Family campgrounds can be lively during daytime hours. One camper observed: "Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up. The kids were around until about 10:30 or so each night."
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Some campgrounds have limited access for larger vehicles. A camper advised: "We had a VW Westfalia, which we had no trouble pulling into our site. If we had something bigger, it might have been an issue."
Hookup availability: Water and electric connections vary by campground. According to one RVer: "The bathrooms were fine. They were clean but sometimes ran out of toilet paper. They were a bit of a hike, but they were clean and had plenty of signage advising people during the pandemic."
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds provide full sanitation facilities. A camper mentioned: "We didn't really see much wildlife and barely any bugs/mosquitos which was maybe the time of year (early/mid-June)."
Leveling requirements: Site terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. One camper noted: "The site is very rocky, so a sleeping pad or air mattress would be ideal."
